Pocket clip and sharpener for lead pencils



July 26,1949. R. A. BALL 2,477,326

POCKET CLIP AND SHARPENER FOR LEAD PENCILS Filed Jul 's, 1947,

Jrfome y Patented July 26, 1949 I POCKET CLIP AND SHARPENER ron LEAD PENCILS Raymond A. Ball, Fort Wayne, Ind., assignor to Byron F. Novitsky, Fort Wayne, Ind. Application July 5, 1947, Serial No. 759,147

This invention relates to improvements in a pocket clip and sharpener for lead pencils of the ordinarytype having a shaft of wood and a core o flead. l R Generally, combination pocket clips and ncil sharpeners are mounted upon a pencil in. one position for use as a clip, and in reverse position when used as a sharpener which necessitates removal of the pencil, reversal-of the device, and

reinsertion of the pencil to be sharpened.

An object ofthe instant invention is to provide a pencil sharpener so constructed that it may be used as a pocket clip and adapted to be mounted upon a lead pencil and remain so mounted without necessitating removal of the pencil whether the device is used as a pocket clip or a sharpener for the pencil. a

. And another object of the invention is to provide a construction consisting of a pencil holder and; asharpener element, pivotally connected therewith, and having latched connection with the holder, arranged so that when the element is used as a sharpener it is secured in latched posi- .tion during the sharpening operation, and in spring-restrained position while used as a pocket Other objects and advantages of 'the invention appear in the following description.

An illustrative'embodiment oftheinvention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

incorporating the invention, mounted upon a pencil with the cuttingelement in operative position; r

Fig. 2 is a vertical elevational viewinaplane at right angles to that of Fig. 1, the cutting ele- Fig. 5 is a group of'fragmentary cross-sectional views of the cutting element respectively on the ilines ZI-, and z-'-, indicated in Fig. 2;

i Fig. 6 is a fragmentary front elevational view of theupper end of the pencil holder; and

. Fig. 7 is a similar view showing a modifi at bn of the pencil hold l 7 Claims. (01. 120-84) Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a structure The illustrative embodiment of the invention consists of a. pencil holder. indicated generally by A, formed of thin sheet spring metal shaped to have an upper cylindrical portion 8 and an open channel portion 9 having parallel side flanges-l0, the edges ll of which recede downwardly, and the lower end of the back portion has made therein a notch l2 for the purpose hereinafter referred to.

The flanges l0 have projecting perforated ears l3 that are alined with each other, located adjacent the junctures of the flanges with the cylindrical upper portion of the holder. A longitudinal slit 8' is made in said upper portion of the holder permitting expansion thereof to accommodate a pencil l5 when inserted into the bore of the holder.

.A cutting element consisting of an elongated plate It isprovided with lateral trunnions I'l that extend through the perforated ears l3 respectivelyand constitute fulcrums upon which the cutting element has tilting movement. The upper end portion of the plate is bowed outwardly and constitutes a spring leverl8 that has contact at its distal end with the cylindrical portion 8 of the holder, thus yieldingly limiting the outward swing of the lower portion of the element. The plate l6 has made therein a longitudinal slot l9 to provide an opening through which shavings cut from a pencil are expelled. On marginal edge of the plate adjacent the opening is bent upwardly more or less increasingly from the lower end of the slot to the other so as to form an overhanging lip 21), and the opposite marginal edge is .bent downwardly and sharpened to provide a cutting blade 2| which has operative engagement with a pencil when thrust into the holder and axially turned therein.

The lower end of the plate l6 has contiguous therewith a backturned extension, the outer extremity of which is curved outwardly and constitutes a clip 22, the upper face of said extension being provided with a projecting tooth 23 that has latching engagement with the channel portion 9 of the holder when the clip is moved into the notch l2 therein. Thus, the element is firmly secured in pencil-sharpening position.

In the modification of the holder (Fig. '7) the slit 8'? is irregular, there being an offset to provide a notch 24 in one of the. opposing walls and a tongue 25 extending from the other that fits into the notch, the notch and tongue preferably extending diagonally with respect to the holder. In this manner the opposing walls are interlocked so that relative longitudinal movement of the opposing walls is limited and expansion of the cylindrical upper end of the holder is also limited, the purpose being to prevent distortion oithe holder by the torque .of a pencil during the sharpening operation.

In'use, the plate I6 is pressed into the open channelportionfl between the flanges Ill, whereupon the: clip :22'enters the notch! 2 andxbecomes latched by engagement of the tooth 23 with the lower end of the holder, and thereby the cutting element is held in pencil-sharpening position. A pencil then is thrust telescopicallyzintoz-the cylinrdrical upper end of the holder into contactewith-c vided with alined ears, and an element pivotally supported by said ears, having a longitudinal slot provided with a cutting blade along one side of said slot, and having at one end a spring lever the distal end of which has contact with the cylindrical portion of said holder and at its other end an inturned extension constituting a clip provided with latching means engageable with the lower end of the holder by which to secure said element in pencil-sharpening position.

3. A lead pencil attachment for sharpening said pencil or securing a pencil in the pocket of a gaxment said attachment consistings of a pencil 'holder having a split'cylindricalportion and a contiguous open channel portion, and an element pivotally supported on the'holder, having a cutting blade; provided at one end with a spring lever engageable with said cylindrical portion to limit the cutting blade 2| and manually revolved there in, whereupon the shaft of'th'e pencil andits leam core are shaved into conical form, the debris being expelled through the longitudinal: slots-19; after which the clip is sprung out of latched vcon nection with the holder and the pencil their is thrust farther through the holder so its sharpened end protrude's beyond -the lower end thereof into writing position, when thuspositioned; the upper:- end" or the spring lever bears yieldingly against the upper cylindrical portion of the 'liolder wliile the clip-bears against the pencil. The cutting element, holder-and the pencil are then relatively disposed inposition for attachment to-apocket 26, by-placingthe holderand the clip astride the top ofthepocket.

Variations fromthe particularconstructionabove dis'closedmay. be resorted-' to by 'the exercise of; skill in, the art; without departure from the: invention. 1

1; A pocket'j'clip andsharpener;attachment: for a lead pencil; said attachment consisting, of .a pencil holder formed of sheet spring metal shaped to havejat split lcylindrical upper portionand an openj channel lower portion provided with side flanges the edges of which recede downwardlyand havehalined perforatedgprojec'ting ears located. adjaoentltheljuncture of said cylindrical and channel portions, and acutting element con-' ,sisting .of'a spring metal plate, having ,lateral trunnionsprojecting throughsaid ears, providing fulcrumsL for. said element, the, upper" end of said, plate having, an. extension. constituting a springlever, .thedistal endWoiQ whichhas contact lwithlthe cylindrical upper. portionofj the holder,

said platehavinga. longitudinalj slot therein, ,one marginal edge, of 7 said. plate, adjacent, said slot, being bentto form an upwardly inclined lipand I opposing, marginal edge being bent downwardly andlsharpenedtojorm a cuttingblade, thelower endof'said plate having oontiguousatherewith a gbackturned extension constituting aclip which is provided with a tooth thatihaslatching engagementvwith the lower endof'therholderwhenthe position, the arrangement being such i that. when a pencil is thrust into the; holder throughthe cylindrical end thereof against saidblade and movement of said element in one direction and at its 'oppositegend with means adapted to have latching engagement with the lower end of the holder tu-securel-said element in pencil-sharpening position, adapted when unlatched for securingthe holder to said pocket. l

4. A lead pencil attachment consisting of a portion: having: a longitudinal 81-1325: and; a lower 'openvchannelsportiomtaznd as cuttinggelementpivthe holderis sec-nfedthereo'n.

cutting elementris movedinto,penciI sharpening a is latched and the pencil is turned.

oted on said holder provided with a. longitudinal slot; i one marginal I portion; ofrthe element: along said? slot. being inturned and sharpened-to form a- -cutting-edge', oneend-iofxsaid element hayinga spring lever engageable. with the corresponding end: offthe= holder to limit 'relativemovement thereof inone direction; and atits opposite end aclip-havinghtching engagementiwiththe opposite end' of" said holder; the arrangement being such that; when the-clipisflatchedi the element-is held in'peneil-'sharpeningposition and when unlatched and applied to the pocket of 'a ga'rment,

5. A leadpencil sharpener and pocketrclip' 'consisting ,ofa pencil holder having a split cylindrical part and an =open-ohannel-portion contiguousthrwithj arrelementpivotally supported on said holderprovidedwitha cutting blade that projects-into s'aid' channel portion when said e'lement'is move dinto' one selected position", a; spring lever on one end ofisaid el'ement' engageablewith said' cylindrical part to'li'mitmovement otf'sai d element in one direction, anda clip on theot'her end of said element having;- latchedLengagement withsaid channel portion when moved into ,an-

other selected-position, whereby, to hold the-cutting blade into, contact. with a pencil inserted into. the holder through said cylindrical. part; so the ,cutting .blade engages thepencilwhentheclip V 6. :A. leadpencil attachment .consistingofi aaslit 'tubulanj pencil lholder, one margin. ther.eof--, along thecslihhavingia notchethereinyand theopposing 7 'margin having a tongue interlocked in said notch,

saidtongue and; notch being, disposed diagonally withrespectto theiholder, thusto. limit relative longitudinal movement of the:opposing.margins andllaterallexpansionof theholder, and a cutting element pivotally supported onthe holder provided with: a cutting, blade adapted, when-:vthe velement isinpencil-sharpening;position, ionoperative engagement-with a pencil disposedv and turnedin .said holder, theinterlockinginctch :and

tongue ,beingadapted ,to prevent-,distortion .of the holder, by torqueoflthe pencilrduring the sharpening operation. v. i 7. A lead pencil attachment having a longitudinal slit tubular pencil holder in which a. pencil is inserted for longitudinal and rotary movement therein, the opposing margin of the holder along the slit having interlocking means to prevent relative longitudinal movement thereof, and a cutting element pivoted on the holder, which, when moved to a selected position, has operative engagement with a pencil disposed and turned in said holder.

RAYMOND A. BALL.

6 REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,185,387 Evans May 30, 1916 1,275,982 Ormiston Aug. 13, 1918 1,995,777 Olson Mar. 26, 1935 2,287,703 Nyberg et a1. June 23, 1942 

